Kevin Richman reads aboard the Kitsap during the Mukilteo-Clinton run. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

Kevin Richman reads aboard the Kitsap during the Mukilteo-Clinton run. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

Attention ferry travelers: That motorcycle is not cutting in line

Two-wheeled vehicles follow different rules than four wheels for boarding ferries.

MUKILTEO — That guy on the Harley is not cutting in line.

Two wheels go before four wheels on the ferry.

Motorcycles and bicycles follow different rules than cars for boarding ferries. On most sailings, they bypass the ferry wait lines for cars and get priority loading and unloading.

Not only that, they pay less than cars and other big honking vehicles because they take up less room. Space on a ferry is valuable real estate.

The round-trip fare for a motorcycle and driver on the Mukilteo-Clinton route is $11.60, or $8.60 senior rate. One way is $5.80. The standard round-trip car rate with driver is $26.60.

The Edmonds-Kingston round trip for a motorcycle costs $19, or $9.50 each way. Round trip for a car is $44.50 on that route.

Bicycles towing kayaks or canoes pay the motorcycle and driver fare.

Loading order for wheels on a ferry goes like this: bicycles-motorcycles-vehicles.

About 280,000 people ride bicycles onto ferries each year. The stowage storage fee is $1 to $4, depending on the route, plus the passenger fare.

In Mukilteo, people with bicycles bypass the vehicle tollbooth and go to the passenger area inside the terminal to purchase tickets.

The fee for bicycles is $1 on the Mukilteo-Clinton and Edmonds-Kingston routes, with fees collected only on the mainland sites.

What about unicycles?

It’ll still cost you a dollar, unless you stuff it in a bag.

“If you can’t carry it or store it on your back you are probably going to pay a little extra,” said Washington State Ferries spokesperson Ian Sterling.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens appeals sewer district assumption ruling

In June, a judge ruled the city cannot assume the district eight years earlier than originally planned.

Early morning 2-alarm fire damages Edmonds residence

More than 40 firefighters took over an hour to extinguish the fire that began around 4 a.m. Friday.

A digital render of the Food and Farming Center in its planned location in McCollum Park. (Image provided by Snohomish County Planning and Development Services)
Snohomish County Council pass Food and Farming Center regulations

Fundraising will take place through 2026. Phase one of construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Deputy Kargopoltsev gives a demonstration to community members in Stanwood. (Stanwood Police)
Stanwood hosts a new police academy for community members

Police say it’s a chance to learn about patrol operations, investigations, narcotics enforcement and community outreach.

Bothell
Deputies: Motorcyclist, 19, dies after crashing into fence near Bothell

Detectives believe the rider lost control when navigating a turn Thursday morning.

Traffic slows as it moves around the bend of northbound I-5 through north Everett on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Paving project will close I-5 lanes in Everett

Crews will close up to 4 lanes overnight for weeks to complete the $8.1 million repairs.

Two Swift Orange Line buses waits at the Edmonds College Transit Center on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community Transit shares more details on upcoming Gold Line

The agency still needs to decide on a final route and whether to implement bus lanes. It plans to ask for more public input in September.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Kirkland police arrest Everett man in connection to 22 burglaries.

The 40-year-old suspect allegedly broke into businesses across four counties.

Four people and a dog evacuated from boat fire at Everett Marina

The 32 foot boat with 300 gallons fuel caught fire friday.

Washington’s food banks are on the brink

Some have already pulled back on what they’re offering, as federal cuts and heightened demand drive deep worries about what comes next.

A rainbow stretches across the sky as a man walks to the school bus stop to pick up his child during a brief moment of rain in 2022 near Hall Park on Casino Road in Everett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
City report gives options to boost south Everett economy

A new economic development plan prepared for the city floated ideas to improve affordability and economic mobility for south Everett residents.

Flowing Lake (P. Gilderoy)
Snohomish County receives $1.6 million in grants from the state to improve park accessibility

WA state awarded three grants to replace an ageing dock, improve waterfront access and build more inclusive play areas.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.